abstract: Adverse childhood family environments have been found to have long-term effects on a child's well-being. Although no prior studies have examined the direct effects of childhood family adversities on nighttime blood pressure (BP) dip, parental death and divorce in childhood, have been associated with a variety of related psychological problems in adulthood. The current study examined the direct effects of parental death and divorce in childhood and quality of early family relationships on adult nighttime BP dip as well as the mediating role of three psychosocial factors (depression, hostility and social stress). One hundred and forty-three young adults were asked to complete self-reported measures of the three psychosocial factors and quality of family relationships. Study participants wore an ambulatory blood pressure (ABP) monitor over a 24-hr period in order to assess nocturnal BP dip. Although neither childhood family adversity nor quality of childhood family relationships directly predicted nighttime BP dipping, quality of early family relationships predicted all three psychosocial factors, and hostility was found to mediate the relationship between quality of childhood family relationships and nighttime systolic BP dip. Early family experiences play an important role in influencing nighttime cardiovascular functioning by influencing an individual's psychological functioning in young adulthood. Because nighttime non-dipping has been associated with increased risk for cardiovascular disease and other serious health conditions, the results of the present study have important clinical implications and provide specific psychosocial pathways that may be targeted in future programs designed to prevent and treat cardiovascular disease. / Dissertation/Thesis / M.A. Psychology 2012

To date, no prior research has examined the combined roles of childhood family adversity and pubertal timing in longitudinal pathways to depressive symptomatology in adulthood. The present study was conducted with 225 men and 225 women to explore the unique and combined roles of childhood family adversity and pubertal timing on depressive symptoms in a community sample of married adults. Results for both men and women indicated significant main effects of a cumulatively risky family environment on depressive symptoms, as well as main effects of families with higher levels of abuse and neglect, chaos and disorganization, and interpersonal family conflict. A significant moderating relation was found for women with earlier pubertal timing and higher levels of childhood interpersonal family conflict on greater levels of depressive symptoms in adulthood. No other significant relations were determined in other moderation and mediational analyses. This project furthers our understanding of how the combined roles of pubertal timing and childhood family experiences can clarify the developmental, evolutionary, and clinical theories that link childhood and adolescent experiences to depression in adulthood. Specifically, childhood home environments defined by frequent interpersonal conflict (quarreling, arguing, and shouting), combined with early pubertal development, may play an important role in predicating depressive symptomatology among adult women.

Sofrer bullying na infância e na adolescência se configura como fator de risco para a instalação e manutenção de problemas de comportamento e de transtornos psiquiátricos. A adversidade familiar, por sua vez, contribui para o envolvimento em situações de bullying. Os objetivos do presente estudo foram: (1) avaliar e comparar os escores de problemas de comportamento em dois grupos (vítimas e não vítimas de bullying), obtidos por meio do autorrelato e do relato dos professores e (2) verificar correlações entre os escores de adversidade familiar e de problemas de comportamento nos dois grupos. Participaram 154 adolescentes, dos quais 31 (20,1%) foram identificados como vítimas de bullying, por meio da Escala de Violência Escolar (EVE) e da versão traduzida do Peer Assessment. Para avaliar os problemas de comportamento foram utilizadas as versões brasileiras do Youth Self Report/11-18 (YSR) e do Teacher Report Form (TRF). O índice de adversidade familiar (IAF) avaliou o nível de adversidade familiar entre as famílias. Mais adolescentes vítimas de bullying foram avaliados com problemas de comportamento internalizantes, externalizantes e totais em nível clínico, quando comparados ao grupo de não vítimas. As maiores diferenças entre grupos foram verificadas na subescala de Depressão e Ansiedade, a partir do relato dos adolescentes, e na escala de Comportamento Agressivo, de acordo com os professores. Os alunos alvos de bullying relataram mais problemas de comportamento internalizantes (F=13,3 e p=0,001) e menos problemas de comportamento externalizantes (F=6,63 e p=0,013), quando comparados ao relato de seus professores. A presença de discórdia conjugal foi mais frequente em famílias de alunos vítimas de bullying, atingindo diferença estatisticamente significativa entre os grupos ( 2 =4,2 e p=0,04). Houve correlação positiva e ligeira entre os escores de problemas de comportamento, relatados pelos alunos, e os escores de adversidade familiar (=0,288 e p=0,001). Embora os escores de problemas de comportamento, sobretudo internalizantes, relatados por vítimas de bullying tenham sido significativamente superiores aos relatados por não vítimas, e tenham atingido níveis clínicos, os professores parecem não estarem sensíveis a estes indicadores. Identificar problemas de comportamento e características familiares adversas associadas à vitimização, assim como avaliar a percepção dos próprios envolvidos e de seus professores, contribui para o desenvolvimento de medidas preventivas de bullying em escolas brasileiras / Being bullied in childhood and adolescence is configured as a risk factor for the installation and maintenance of behavioral problems and psychiatric disorders. Family adversity, in turn, contributes to involvement in bullying situations. The aims of the study were: (1) to evaluate and compare the scores of behavior problems in two groups (victims and non-victims of bullying), obtained by self-report and by teachers report, and (2) examine correlations between the scores of family adversity and behavior problems of the two groups. Participated 154 adolescents, of whom, 31 (20.1%) were identified as victims of bullying, through the School Violence Scale (EVE) and through the translated version of the Peer Assessment. To assess the behavioral problems, the Brazilian versions of the Youth Self Report/11-18 (YSR) and the Teacher Report Form (TRF) were used. The family adversity index (LAI), from Rutter, assessed the level of family adversity among the families. Most adolescent victims of bullying were assessed with internalizing problems, externalizing, and total behavior at a clinical level, when compared with non-victims. The biggest differences between groups were found in the subscale of Depression and Anxiety, according to the teenagers and the Aggressive Behavior scale, according to teachers. The target of bullying students reported more internalizing behavior problems (F = 13.3, p = 0.001) and fewer externalizing behavior problems (F = 6.63, p = 0.013), when compared with their teachers. The presence of interparental conflict was more frequent in families of students bullied, reaching statistically significant difference between groups ( 2 = 4.2, p = 0.04). There was a slight and positive correlation between the scores of behavioral problems reported by students and the family adversity scores ( = 0.288, p = 0.001). While scores of behavior problems, especially internalizing, reported by victims of bullying were significantly higher than those reported by non-victims, and have reached clinical levels, the teachers do not seem to be sensitive to these indicators. Identify behavior problems and family characteristics associated with victimization, and to evaluate the perception of the involved and their teachers contribute to the development of preventive measures of bullying in Brazilian schools

Sofrer bullying na infância e na adolescência se configura como fator de risco para a instalação e manutenção de problemas de comportamento e de transtornos psiquiátricos. A adversidade familiar, por sua vez, contribui para o envolvimento em situações de bullying. Os objetivos do presente estudo foram: (1) avaliar e comparar os escores de problemas de comportamento em dois grupos (vítimas e não vítimas de bullying), obtidos por meio do autorrelato e do relato dos professores e (2) verificar correlações entre os escores de adversidade familiar e de problemas de comportamento nos dois grupos. Participaram 154 adolescentes, dos quais 31 (20,1%) foram identificados como vítimas de bullying, por meio da Escala de Violência Escolar (EVE) e da versão traduzida do Peer Assessment. Para avaliar os problemas de comportamento foram utilizadas as versões brasileiras do Youth Self Report/11-18 (YSR) e do Teacher Report Form (TRF). O índice de adversidade familiar (IAF) avaliou o nível de adversidade familiar entre as famílias. Mais adolescentes vítimas de bullying foram avaliados com problemas de comportamento internalizantes, externalizantes e totais em nível clínico, quando comparados ao grupo de não vítimas. As maiores diferenças entre grupos foram verificadas na subescala de Depressão e Ansiedade, a partir do relato dos adolescentes, e na escala de Comportamento Agressivo, de acordo com os professores. Os alunos alvos de bullying relataram mais problemas de comportamento internalizantes (F=13,3 e p=0,001) e menos problemas de comportamento externalizantes (F=6,63 e p=0,013), quando comparados ao relato de seus professores. A presença de discórdia conjugal foi mais frequente em famílias de alunos vítimas de bullying, atingindo diferença estatisticamente significativa entre os grupos ( 2 =4,2 e p=0,04). Houve correlação positiva e ligeira entre os escores de problemas de comportamento, relatados pelos alunos, e os escores de adversidade familiar (=0,288 e p=0,001). Embora os escores de problemas de comportamento, sobretudo internalizantes, relatados por vítimas de bullying tenham sido significativamente superiores aos relatados por não vítimas, e tenham atingido níveis clínicos, os professores parecem não estarem sensíveis a estes indicadores. Identificar problemas de comportamento e características familiares adversas associadas à vitimização, assim como avaliar a percepção dos próprios envolvidos e de seus professores, contribui para o desenvolvimento de medidas preventivas de bullying em escolas brasileiras / Being bullied in childhood and adolescence is configured as a risk factor for the installation and maintenance of behavioral problems and psychiatric disorders. Family adversity, in turn, contributes to involvement in bullying situations. The aims of the study were: (1) to evaluate and compare the scores of behavior problems in two groups (victims and non-victims of bullying), obtained by self-report and by teachers report, and (2) examine correlations between the scores of family adversity and behavior problems of the two groups. Participated 154 adolescents, of whom, 31 (20.1%) were identified as victims of bullying, through the School Violence Scale (EVE) and through the translated version of the Peer Assessment. To assess the behavioral problems, the Brazilian versions of the Youth Self Report/11-18 (YSR) and the Teacher Report Form (TRF) were used. The family adversity index (LAI), from Rutter, assessed the level of family adversity among the families. Most adolescent victims of bullying were assessed with internalizing problems, externalizing, and total behavior at a clinical level, when compared with non-victims. The biggest differences between groups were found in the subscale of Depression and Anxiety, according to the teenagers and the Aggressive Behavior scale, according to teachers. The target of bullying students reported more internalizing behavior problems (F = 13.3, p = 0.001) and fewer externalizing behavior problems (F = 6.63, p = 0.013), when compared with their teachers. The presence of interparental conflict was more frequent in families of students bullied, reaching statistically significant difference between groups ( 2 = 4.2, p = 0.04). There was a slight and positive correlation between the scores of behavioral problems reported by students and the family adversity scores ( = 0.288, p = 0.001). While scores of behavior problems, especially internalizing, reported by victims of bullying were significantly higher than those reported by non-victims, and have reached clinical levels, the teachers do not seem to be sensitive to these indicators. Identify behavior problems and family characteristics associated with victimization, and to evaluate the perception of the involved and their teachers contribute to the development of preventive measures of bullying in Brazilian schools

Les enfants présentant un niveau élevé d’agressivité physique sont davantage à risque de commettre des actes criminels à l’âge adulte. Ces enfants sont également plus à risque de consommer des substances psychoactives au cours de leur adolescence. Les études portant sur le lien entre la consommation de substances psychoactives et la criminalité arrivent à des conclusions différentes, dépendamment des substances à l’étude et des comportements criminels ciblés. Un lien positif a été démontré entre la consommation chronique d’alcool et la perpétration d’actes criminels contre la personne et contre la propriété, tandis que la consommation de cannabis a été associée positivement aux actes criminels contre la propriété et négativement aux crimes contre la personne. La présente étude visait à tester l’hypothèse que l’agressivité physique manifestée à l’enfance est associée à une augmentation du nombre de charges criminelles durant l’âge adulte et que cette association est spécifique au type de criminalité et modérée différemment par la consommation d’alcool et de cannabis durant l’adolescence. À cette fin, 887 participants de sexe masculin provenant de milieu défavorisé ont été suivis de 6 à 25 ans. Les analyses de régressions logistiques multinomiales indiquent que les individus cheminant sur une trajectoire modérée ou élevée d’agressivité physique durant l’enfance sont plus à risque de commettre des actes criminels. Cette association reste significative après avoir contrôlé pour l’adversité familiale et de la consommation de substances psychoactives. Les hypothèses des effets modérateurs de la consommation d’alcool et de cannabis sont infirmées. Toutefois, des effets principaux de la consommation d’alcool sur les crimes contre la personne et de la consommation de cannabis sur les crimes contre la propriété sont observés. Les implications de ces résultats sont discutées. / Individuals exhibiting high levels of physical aggression during childhood are more at risk of criminal behaviors during adulthood regardless of the presence of several risk factors. Aggressive children are also more at risk of using psychoactive substances during adolescence. Studies of the relationship between substance use and crime have provided different conclusions, depending on the substance under consideration and depending on the category of crime. Alcohol consumption has been positively associated with crimes, both against people and against property. Cannabis consumption has been associated positively with crime against property and negatively with crime against people. This present study aimed at investigating the hypothesis that physical aggression manifested in childhood is associated with an increase in criminal charges during adulthood and that association is specific to the type of crime and moderated differentially by alcohol and cannabis use. To this end, 887 male participants from lower socioeconomic status were followed from age 6 to age 25. Multinomial logistic regressions indicate that individuals belonging to a moderate or a high trajectory of physical aggression during childhood are more likely to commit crimes later in adulthood. This association remains significant after control of family adversity and drug use. Alcohol and cannabis use during adolescence has no effect on this association. However, main effects of alcohol use on crimes against person and cannabis use on crimes against property are observed. The implications of these findings are discussed.

Les enfants présentant un niveau élevé d’agressivité physique sont davantage à risque de commettre des actes criminels à l’âge adulte. Ces enfants sont également plus à risque de consommer des substances psychoactives au cours de leur adolescence. Les études portant sur le lien entre la consommation de substances psychoactives et la criminalité arrivent à des conclusions différentes, dépendamment des substances à l’étude et des comportements criminels ciblés. Un lien positif a été démontré entre la consommation chronique d’alcool et la perpétration d’actes criminels contre la personne et contre la propriété, tandis que la consommation de cannabis a été associée positivement aux actes criminels contre la propriété et négativement aux crimes contre la personne. La présente étude visait à tester l’hypothèse que l’agressivité physique manifestée à l’enfance est associée à une augmentation du nombre de charges criminelles durant l’âge adulte et que cette association est spécifique au type de criminalité et modérée différemment par la consommation d’alcool et de cannabis durant l’adolescence. À cette fin, 887 participants de sexe masculin provenant de milieu défavorisé ont été suivis de 6 à 25 ans. Les analyses de régressions logistiques multinomiales indiquent que les individus cheminant sur une trajectoire modérée ou élevée d’agressivité physique durant l’enfance sont plus à risque de commettre des actes criminels. Cette association reste significative après avoir contrôlé pour l’adversité familiale et de la consommation de substances psychoactives. Les hypothèses des effets modérateurs de la consommation d’alcool et de cannabis sont infirmées. Toutefois, des effets principaux de la consommation d’alcool sur les crimes contre la personne et de la consommation de cannabis sur les crimes contre la propriété sont observés. Les implications de ces résultats sont discutées. / Individuals exhibiting high levels of physical aggression during childhood are more at risk of criminal behaviors during adulthood regardless of the presence of several risk factors. Aggressive children are also more at risk of using psychoactive substances during adolescence. Studies of the relationship between substance use and crime have provided different conclusions, depending on the substance under consideration and depending on the category of crime. Alcohol consumption has been positively associated with crimes, both against people and against property. Cannabis consumption has been associated positively with crime against property and negatively with crime against people. This present study aimed at investigating the hypothesis that physical aggression manifested in childhood is associated with an increase in criminal charges during adulthood and that association is specific to the type of crime and moderated differentially by alcohol and cannabis use. To this end, 887 male participants from lower socioeconomic status were followed from age 6 to age 25. Multinomial logistic regressions indicate that individuals belonging to a moderate or a high trajectory of physical aggression during childhood are more likely to commit crimes later in adulthood. This association remains significant after control of family adversity and drug use. Alcohol and cannabis use during adolescence has no effect on this association. However, main effects of alcohol use on crimes against person and cannabis use on crimes against property are observed. The implications of these findings are discussed.

The current study had two purposes. The first purpose was to examine the association between family rules and routines and first grade children's teacher-rated and peer-rated behavioral competencies (e.g., emotional symptoms, conduct problems, peer problems, hyperactivity, and prosocial behavior) after controlling for both family stressors (i.e., single parent home, mobility, socioeconomic status, property ownership) and child ethnicity (African American, Caucasian, Hispanic). The second purpose was to determine if child regulatory control abilities mediates the effects of family rules and routines and children's behavioral competencies. The parents of 215 ethnically diverse children (38%, Caucasian, 22% African American, 33% Hispanic, 7% Other) were interviewed in their homes with a modified and shortened version of Family Routines Inventory (FRI; Jensen, James, Boyce, & Hartnett, 1983). Teachers completed the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ; Goodman, 1997), and peers completed a modified version of the Class Play (Masten, Morison & Pelligrini, 1985). Scores from the SDQ were standardized and combined with the standardized scores obtained from the peer nominations to create composites of the behavioral competencies. Additionally, teachers completed a modified version of the California Child Q-set (CCQ) (Block & Block, 1980) as a measure of these children's regulatory control abilities. African American parents' ratings of their family's rules and routines were higher than those of Hispanic and Caucasian parents' ratings. Additionally, family stressors were positively associated with higher teacher and peer ratings of conduct problems and lower ratings of prosocial behavior. Neither ethnicity nor family rules and routines predicted child competencies. A statistically significant curvilinear relationship was found between family rules and routines and conduct problems such that children of parents reporting the highest and lowest levels of family rules and routines have more conduct problems. No associations were found between family rules and routines and child competencies or children's regulatory control abilities. Limitations of the study are discussed in terms of inadequate measurement of family rules and routines, a defensive response set, self-selection on the part of the parents to participate in the interview, and a sample that is not representative of the community of parents and children in the participating schools.